Mitch Daniels, Reality-Based Conservative

For
decades, Republicans have railed against deficits and debt, but they’ve
been too afraid of voter backlash to venture beyond marginal measures
(“wasteful spending”). Daniels didn’t get the memo.

Let’s raise the retirement age,
he says. Let’s reduce Social Security for the rich. And let’s
reconsider our military commitments, too. When I ask about taxesin
2005 Daniels proposed a hike on the $100,000-plus crowd, which his own
party promptly torpedoedhe refuses to revert to Republican talking
points. “At some stage there could well be a tax increase,” he says
with a sigh. “They say we can’t have grown-up conversations anymore. I
think we can.”

Know hope.

(Photo: Shawn Thew/AFP/Getty Images)

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